224 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
Phalline, a Poisonous Product from Fungi.* — Prof. Robert gives 
the name phalline to the poisonous substance present in Amanita phal- 
loides. It is a toxalbumen, and, even in very minute quantities, causes 
dissolution of the red corpuscles of the blood, followed by the liberation 
of certain ferments. It occurs also in other species of the same genus, 
viz. in Amanita virescens , viridis, citrina, virosa. mappa, recutita , and 
porphyria. 
Sterigmates and Spores of Agaricus campestris.f — Different state- 
ments having been made by different writers as to the number of sterig- 
mates and spores ordinarily borne on each basid of the common mush- 
room, Mr. E. C. Horrell has re-investigated the subject, with the result 
that, in the overwhelming majority of cases, the number is two, three 
being comparatively very rare, and four still rarer. 
Morphology ofsBlastomycetes.ij: — Dr. 0. Casagrandi finds that the 
investing membrane of Blastomycetes is not single, but is composed 
of two or more layers, present not only in the old but also in young 
yeast-cells. 
In its chemical nature this membrane is allied to pectose, but is not 
identical with the intercellular substance of the Papilionaceae. 
It does not give the cellulose reaction with iodine, either applied 
directly or after treatment with acid or alkali. It is soluble in chromic 
acid and in strong sulphuric acid. It is insoluble in Schweizer’s reagent, 
with or without previous treatment with hydrochloric or acetic acid 
alcohol. It is not easily stained with carmin or anilin solutions, but 
methylen-blue and Hanstein’s anilin are exceptions if used hot and after 
previous treatment with 4 to 6 per cent, hydrochloric acid alcohol, or 
2 per cent, acetic acid. Not infrequently it stains with carbol-fuchsin 
or carbol-safranin. 
The cell-granules of Blastomycetes are considered by the author to 
be formed of protoplasmic vesicles, which in their early stages are filled 
with a solid fatty substance. When the cells get older, or if acted on 
by chemical reagents, the fatty substance is fluid. The granules exhibit 
reactions indicative on the one hand of fatty principles, on the other of 
proteid and nuclear substances. 
Of the presence of a nucleus the author is assured. In cells actually 
budding the nucleus presents certain forms which may possibly serve to 
explain the different opinions of observers as to the fission being mitotic 
or amitotic. This question is reserved for a future communication. 
Myxomycetes. 
Pseudocommis Vitis, as a Cause of Disease in Plants. — M. E. Roze § 
has determined experimentally that this myxomycetous parasite is the 
cause of the anthracnose or brunissure of the vine. Infection was obtained 
from the brown spots produced by the parasite on the leaves of the cherry. 
The same author || finds the same organism accompanying Aspergillus 
glaucus, as a frequent cause of disease in the sweet chestnut and other 
*^Lehrb. d. Intoxicationen, 1897, p. 457. See Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc., 1896, 97 
p. 27. f Journ. Linn. Soc., xxxiii. (1897) pp. 168-71 (1 pi.). 
t Centralbl. Bakt. u. Par., 2 te Abt., 1897, pp. 563-75, 634-9, 718-21. 
§ Comptes Rendus, cxxv. (1897) pp. 453-5. 23 211 Tom. cit., pp. 982-3. 
